海向寺は出羽三山の湯殿山信仰の町の拠点として

人々の祈りを支えてきました。

現在も湯殿山法楽を伝承し、

全国で唯一、二体の即身佛をお奉りしております。

 

・忠    海上人　海向寺中興初代住職　宝暦五年(1755年)入定

・円明海上人　海向寺中興九代住職　文政五年(1822年)入定

 

湯殿山信仰の行者である即身佛は弘法大師「空海」の「海」の字を一字いただいて、衆生済度を身近な形にして、人々の祈りを守ってきました。

湯殿山仙人沢での木食修行、お沢がけ、荒行の後、最後には土中への入定を果たし、仏になられました。

言葉や文字だけでは語れない空間の中、人々の祈りと願いの架け橋として存在し、

歴史の中に座り続けます。

参拝の折には願い事を一つだけおかけください。

 

◆Sokushinbutsu(即身佛, flesh-icon, living Buddha)

Unlike mummies in Egypt, those  in Japan are self-mummified Buddhist monks called 'Sokushinbutsu'　(flesh-icon, living Buddha). 

In ancient times, people suffered from calamities such as crop failure, epidemics, and famine. Monks from the Shingon sect practiced austere mountain asceticism to pray for the people's salvation. For some monks, that form of worship became extreme,culminating in a process that turned them into 'Sokushinbutsu'.

 

◆Venerable Chukai （忠海上人） 

First abbot of Kaikoji Temple after its restoration. He died in Horeki 5(1755) at the age of fifty-eight and was subsequently transformed into 'Sokushinbutsu'. He was born in a warror family in the city of Tsuruoka and served his domain as a soldier before becoming a Mt. Yudono ascetic. 

 

◆Venerable Enmyokai  (円明海上人)

Ninth abbot of Kaikouji Temple after its restoration. He died in Bunsei 5(1822) at the age of fifty-five. He was born in a peasant family in the village of Shonai.

After his death his corpse was transformed into 'Sokushinbutsu'.

 

It is said that the Sokushinbutsu have the power to answer prayers. I ask that you try to express a wish or hope that is of great importance to you and entrust it to the Sokushinbutsu.When you express your desire to the flesh-icon, your monologue will transform into a dialogue with the ascetic.

 

 

即身佛衣入り御守り

十二年に一度　丑年に、忠海上人・円明海上人が身につけている着物を衣替えしております。

両上人のお召しになった衣を小さく切って御守りの中に封じ込めております。

即身佛堂内、受付、本堂内でご購入いただけます。